As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, visit the help center for guidance.
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

1

This question is going to be difficult to answer in the stack exchange format. Every answer is equally valid, thus, it is not the best question. I would suggest writing your question to ask about a specific phone rather then keep it opened ended as it is - or it may get closed.
–
dpollittOct 12 '11 at 0:27

2

Yeah, the basic answer is that Nokia was the only company that cared about making awesome cameras in their phones, followed (but with a different philosophy) by Apple. Especially now with the Nokia/Microsoft sellout, that leaves Android pretty much at the bottom of the barrel. The best thing you can hope for is some marketers excited about upping the megapixel count and oooh dual LED flashes. The iPhone 4S camera is supposed to improve on Apple's already strong position in this regard; maybe some Android maker will rise to the challenge — but I'm not holding my breath.
–
mattdmOct 12 '11 at 1:57

2

@Rory: look at HTC's own page to see what I mean. Megapixels and the dual flash are listed, plus autofocus and video. And software effects. But no mention of optics or sensor tech (or even aperture or ISO). It probably takes some serious sleuthing to even find out what they are. These things just aren't the priority. I wish it were otherwise.
–
mattdmOct 12 '11 at 14:27

1

Contrast Apple's page on the iPhone 4S camera. It's far from being all we could hope for as photographers, but it talks about the lens design (5 elements, f/2.4), IR filter, BSI sensor — and they even emphasize that you can turn off the LED flash rather than trying to pretend that it's awesome. I'm not by any stretch an Apple fanboy, but I wish the Android makers would take some cues here.
–
mattdmOct 12 '11 at 14:33

4 Answers
4

You might want to check out some reviews on Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 (e.g. TechRadar, Androinica, Amateur Photographer), which offers 4.7mm (35e: 35mm) f/2.8 camera with image stabilization. In comparison to iPhone 4, the X10 seems to do better in exposure metering and color reproduction, but photos have less detail.

Xperia Arc (and its minor improvement, Arc S) is marketed as an improvement upon X10, sporting a backlit Exmor R sensor (crop factor 7) and 4mm (35e: 28mm) f/2.4 lens, but the reviews I've read (e.g. ePHOTOzine, All About Symbian, phoneArena) give me impression that while it's slightly better in low light, it's more average in moderate to good light. Compared against iPhone 4, detail reproduction seems to have improved, but colors are less vibrant.

My case protects my lens, and it actually works great with the case still on. I use an Otterbox case.
–
dpollittOct 12 '11 at 13:28

Probably off topic, but I just want to point out that the iPhone 4s does improve on many of the points outlined in the comparison given for the X10.
–
dpollittOct 12 '11 at 14:48

The Xperia X10 reviews do seem fairly positive, but, again, Sony Ericsson's own marketing materials don't take the camera seriously. It's buried in the list of features, and there it only gets touted for its megapixels and face recognition software. The camera doesn't even make the overview page.
–
mattdmOct 12 '11 at 19:40

@mattdm actually, the X10 overview page starts with "Stunning images..." headline - no need to mention camera when user cares about end result. Summarizing a camera in terms of megapixels, HD video and face detection is fairly common in P&S world, which a phone might hope to compete. I have to admit, they were doing better when they really had devoted Cyber-shot phones.
–
ImreOct 12 '11 at 21:11

My wife just got an HTC Sensation. I've been very impressed with the camera. You can see some examples here. The only thing that it doesn't have is a dedicated shutter button. I think that they have addressed that in the latest version, but I haven't played with that one yet.

It is not yet released but Panasonic (aka Lumix) is planning to release a phone/camera hybrid which has optical zoom and 12MP count. I am not sure if the lens is Leica (like some other Lumix cameras) but it looks promising.